Top 9 Most Common Causes Of A Flat Tire | KBO Bike

Having a flat tire can kill the joy of every rider with an instant effect. It puts the rider in a state of worry and probably fear, depending on where the tire bursts. If your tire keeps losing air, then it means you have a popped tire or a deflated tire. Most riders have experienced a flat tire situation at least once in their lives. A flat tire at night or in bad weather is not only inconvenient but can also put a rider's safety at risk. It leaves you stuck in a place as driving on a flat tire puts the rider at greater risk.

You know the feeling of frustration that comes with seeing your electric bike with a flat tire if you've ever been in this situation. To go on your ride freely and safely with no flat tires, there are some important tips to note and even in the case of a flat tire, there are tips on what to do with a flat tire. There are also some leading causes of deflated tires that you should know.

• A puncture by a sharp object

This is the leading cause of a deflated tire in our world today. The presence of sharp objects like nails, blades, broken bottles, glasses, and even sharp stones on the road can lead to tire puncture, leading to a tire leaking air. Riders should ride on the road and not on debris, piled dirt or parking lots more often to avoid tire puncture.

Pedal away from debris on the road wherever possible to avoid tire puncture and blowouts. Keep an eye out for trash and debris on the pavement, such as broken glass bottles, if you're driving through a parking lot—pedal with caution around construction sites and on roads that aren't well-maintained.

• Damaged or Ripped Tire

A popped tire could also be a result of a ripped tire. A tire can get ripped due to overuse or expiration. If your tire keeps losing air, you should check for damages on it as it could have been ripped due to overuse and other factors. This can lead to a flat tire. You might ask, can you ride on a flat tire that has been ripped? Driving on a flat tire is not recommended at all. It can be extremely dangerous as the tire keeps losing air.

• Damaged Tire Valve

The valves in a bike's wheel from which the tires are inflated are known as tire valve stems. They have a spring-loaded valve center that seals itself using the tire's internal air pressure. If you ever wondered how to let the air out of tires without a tire puncture, you can do so by opening the tire valve.

A damaged tire valve will only mean that there's a flat bike tire lurking somewhere. A well-functioning tire valve will also mean that there are no flat tires. This shows how important the tire valve is to the tire. If you need to know how to let the air out of the tire, the tire valve is the place to go.

You may request that the tire valve stem be inspected when you go in for a routine e-bike maintenance check or visit your local tire store. It would almost certainly need to be replaced if it has become too old or dirty, which they will take care of.

• Tire Bead Leaks

The tire bead is a wire framework that keeps the tire firmly attached to the tire rim. It is the tire's inner loop, the portion that connects the tire to the rim and keeps the whole wheel together. When the air starts to leak from the tire bead, the tire will, in turn, become deflated.

You can confirm a tire bead leak by spraying soapy water on your tire bead and tire valve. If there is the emergence of tiny bubbles, then there is a tire bead leak, but there is no tire bead leak if there are no tiny bubbles.

• Over inflated Tires

This is another leading cause of deflated tires. When a tire is over pumped, it will lead to a blowout which is a dangerous situation to be in, especially if you're in motion. With an over pumped tire, there's excess pressure on the material the tire is made of, a tire leak starts, and this results in a popped tire or deflated tire.

Tire pressure should ideally be tested at least monthly as part of an electric bicycle maintenance schedule. Using a tire pressure gauge or getting a professional to do it for you are both options for checking tire pressure.

• Road Hazards

With the kind of potholes, sharp objects, dirty roads, piled dirt and debris on our roads today, a tire leak should be expected. The risk of a deflated tire increases as the condition of the road deteriorates. These road hazards can cause a lot of damage to our wheels and tires. Road hazards that lead to tire leaking air or deflated tires are a leading cause of accidents and should be tackled with urgency. On our part, we should do well to avoid bike flat tire or tire puncture by driving away from debris on roads.

• Vandalism

This is a situation where someone who knows how to pop a tire or deflate a tire does so, probably because you have parked in the wrong place. So if you get a flat tire at night, you have to get someone who knows how to fix a flat tire to get the job done for you or, better still, know how to fix a flat tire yourself. The remedy to this is parking in the right place.

• Separation of Tire and Rim resulting from Collision with Another Object

This separation is usually a result of hitting your wheel against something while driving or trying to park your e-bike. The tire pulls away from the rim slightly. This results in a tire leaking air over time. This is not something an inexperienced person without tools can fix. You will require the services of someone that knows how to fix a flat tire.

• High Temperature

During the hottest months of the year, the tire is more likely to go flat. This is because the air in your tire expands as the temperature rises. This increases the tire's inward weight. When this happens, the tire's chances of losing pressure and being flat are increased.

Check your tire pressure before you get on the road; this will give you a more accurate reading than after you've been driving in the heat. It's particularly important to maintain proper tire pressure throughout the summer and avoid driving with over-inflated tires.

Your bike's flat tire can pose a big threat to your security if you get a flat tire at night, and that is why basic knowledge about tires is very necessary for you as a rider. You should be conversant with various things like how to let the air out of a tire, how to pop a tire, what to do with a flat tire and how to fix a tire just so you are not stranded with a flat tire at night.

Conclusion

It is important to know that while there is no surefire way to avoid flat tires, taking proper care and knowing the causes of deflated tires will help. If you have an unexpected deflated tire on the road, always ride cautiously and carefully. Don't slam on the brakes. Instead, let the e-bike slow naturally while steering to the side of the road. Switch on your warning lights, and don't try to change the tire yourself unless you are reasonably away from moving traffic and have the necessary knowledge of fixing a flat tire.

Can I ride on a flat tire? Yes, I can, but I would not do that. Can you ride on a flat tire? Yes, you can, but you should not except in rare cases where you want to move your e- bike forward (not too far away) to get it repaired. Apart from this reason, it is very dangerous to ride on a flat tire. You can slow down and pull off the road if you have a flat tire. Continuing to ride may cause damage to the components of the bike. Riding with a flat tire can lead to a loss of control and an accident, particularly at high speeds.

It's completely natural for your tires to wear out over time. Avoiding quick starts and stops, keeping your pedals balanced regularly, maintaining the recommended tire pressure, and getting your tires rotated regularly will help prolong your tires' life and keep them from going flat.

Besides avoiding flat tire while riding an e-bike, it's also vital to keep you electric bike secure.